College Planning Timeline

Fall

Take a look at your Naviance assessment results from last school year.

Set goals for the school year. Working toward specific goals helps you stay motivated and focused.

Explore extracurricular activities. Getting involved in clubs and other groups is a great way for you to identify interests and feel more engaged in school. Read more about the benefits of extracurriculars.

Winter

Discuss next year’s classes. Make sure you are challenging yourself — and taking the courses college admission officers expect to see. Review your graduation diploma promise. Learn more about the high school classes that colleges look for.

Spring

Start a college list. Visit College Search Step-by-Step to get tips on starting a college search and figuring out what matters most to you when choosing a college.

See how much you need to save for college. Use the College Savings Calculator to get an idea of where you are compared to your savings goal.

Make summer plans. Summer is a great time to explore interests and learn new skills — and colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities. Find out ways to stay motivated this summer.